My portfolio
As my clown teacher used to say, "What does not get expressed will become impressed," so I make things. Sometimes I collaborate with people, sometimes I go it solo. Want to work together? Drop me a line!
Essays
I write because I love to read. Current obsessions include: Voice Lessons: On Becoming a (Woman) Writer, The Possessed, The Crane Wife, Dept. of Speculation, Abandon Me, I Am I Am I Am, Dear Mr. You, and Circe. I'm currently working on a book of essays entitled Clown.
Publications:
"Artist", Salt Hill Journal (nominated for a Pushcart Prize, 2021)
"The Astronaut", Pigeon Pages (finalist in the 2020 Essay Contest)
"Afternoons", Chicago Center for Literature and Photography
Storytelling
I tell personal narrative stories about family, clowning, ill-fated artistic retreats, failed auditions, and other misadventures I've both fostered and endured on my creative journey.
Where I've told:
MN Tellabration
Open Book
Cabaret on the Lake
Truth Be Told
Tenx9 Chicago
Chicago Dramatists
Story Sessions
This Much Is True
Truth or Lie
Was The Word
Mortified Chicago
Is This a Thing?
Witching Hour Festival
Under the Gun Theater
Nerdalogues
Fictlicious
The Bucket Show
Gilead
Do Not Submit
Homewood Stories
Film
My best friend, Kaitlyn Busbee, is an accomplished filmmaker and I wanted to hang out with her all the time, so I started making films. Here's my acting reel.
Film/TV
Sexpert Franzen (short), Lead/Writer/Producer, Dir. Kaitlyn Busbee
These Hopeless Savages (feature), Featured//Producer, Dir. Kaitlyn Busbee and Sean Lewis
Sad Dad (web series), Lead/Producer, Dir. Kaitlyn Busbee and Sean Lewis
Where are you? (short), Lead/Producer, Dir. Kaitlyn Busbee
In Luck (web series pilot), Lead, Tiny Pony Pictures Productions
Grow Up (short), Featured, Dir. Ben Handler
Awards
Named Best Supporting Actress in These Hopeless Savages by Wild Rose Film Festival (2014)
Sexpert Franzen nominated for Best Short of the Twin Cities Film Fest (2018)
In Luck awarded Best Web Series Episode, Women's Comedy Film Festival Atlanta (2021)
Theatre
I fell in love with acting when I saw Kate Eifrig in Heather Raffo's 9 Parts of Desire, but reading Maria Irene Fornes' Mud made me want to direct, and basically anything by Sarah Ruhl made me want to write. Who says you have to choose?
Acting Touring Credits
Map of my Kingdom, Angela Martin, Swander Woman Productions
Are You There, George?, Natalie/Writer/Producer, Dir. Kaitlyn Busbee
Out of Bounds, Dani, Working Group Theatre
Finder's Daughter, Jitka, Working Group Theatre
Awards
"Are You There, George?" was named #1 Newbie of MN Fringe by vita.mn arts and culture magazine (2014)
Directing Credits
"Mud" by Maria Irene Fornes (Riverside Theatre and UI Theatre Department)
"My Sister" by Janet Schlapkohl (Quad City Theatre Workshop, Riverside Theatre)
Teaching
I love teaching and have worked as a drama teacher, storytelling coach, and TimeSlips facilitator throughout the Midwest.
Teaching highlights:
Storytelling workshops include: "Storytelling Seeds: A Generative Workshop" TestKitchen (2019) & Witching Hour Festival (2016), "Storytelling for Advocacy" EverThrive IL Conference (2017, 2018), "Problematic Princesses" WAVES Programming (2016)
I'm a Certified TimeSlips facilitator and worked with seniors with memory loss in Chicago to create original stories using photographs, poetry, music, and movement
I've taught drama to adults and teenagers with developmental disabilities using movement, improvisation, and song to create and stage original productions